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Prevalence, predictors, and correlates of supportive care needs among women 3–5 years after a diagnosis of endometrial cancer

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Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to examine the prevalence, sociodemographic and clinical predictors, and physical and psychosocial correlates of unmet needs among women 3–5 years following treatment for endometrial cancer.

Methods

Women with endometrial cancer completed a survey around the time of diagnosis and again 3–5 years later. The follow-up survey asked women about their physical and psychosocial functioning and supportive care needs (CaSUN). Multivariable-adjusted logistic regression identified the predictors and correlates of women’s unmet needs 3–5 years after diagnosis.

Results

Of the 629 women who completed the cancer survivors’ unmet needs measure (CaSUN), 24 % (n = 153) women reported one or more unmet supportive care needs in the last month. Unmet needs at 3–5 years post-diagnosis were predicted by younger age (OR = 4.47; 95 % CI: 2.09–9.56) and advanced disease stage at diagnosis (OR = 2.47; 95 % CI: 1.38–4.45) and correlated with greater cancer symptoms (OR = 1.78; 95 % CI: 1.05–3.02), lower limb swelling (OR = 2.50; 95 % CI: 1.51–4.15), symptoms of anxiety (OR = 2.21; 95 % CI: 1.31–3.72), and less availability of social support (OR = 3.42; 95 % CI: 1.92–6.11). Women with a history of comorbidities (OR = 0.47; 95 % CI: 0.27–0.82) and those living in a rural area at the time of diagnosis (OR = 0.56; 95 % CI: 0.34–0.92) were less likely to report unmet needs.

Conclusions

Sociodemographic, health, and psychosocial factors seem important for identifying women who will or will not have unmet needs several years following endometrial cancer. Longitudinal assessments of people’s needs over the course of their cancer trajectory may be an effective way to identify areas that should receive further attention by health providers.

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Acknowledgments

We thank all the women who participated in the study.

We gratefully acknowledge the cooperation of the following institutions: NSW: John Hunter Hospital, Liverpool Hospital, Mater Misericordiae Hospital (Sydney), Mater Misericordiae Hospital (Newcastle), Newcastle Private Hospital, North Shore Private Hospital, Royal Hospital for Women, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Royal North Shore Hospital, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, St George Hospital; Westmead Hospital, Westmead Private Hospital; Qld: Brisbane Private Hospital, Greenslopes Hospital, Mater Misericordiae Hospitals, Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital, Wesley Hospital, Queensland Cancer Registry; SA: Adelaide Pathology Partners, Burnside Hospital, Calvary Hospital, Flinders Medical Centre, Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Royal Adelaide Hospital, South Australian Cancer Registry; Tas: Launceston Hospital, North West Regional Hospitals, Royal Hobart Hospital; Vic: Freemasons Hospital, Melbourne Pathology Services, Mercy Hospital for Women, Royal Women’s Hospital, Victorian Cancer Registry; WA: King Edward Memorial Hospital, St John of God Hospitals Subiaco & Murdoch, Western Australian Cancer Registry.

The ANECS Group comprises: AB Spurdle, P Webb, J Young (QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute); Consumer representative: L McQuire; Clinical Collaborators: NSW: S Baron-Hay, D Bell, A Bonaventura, A Brand, S Braye, J Carter, F Chan, C Dalrymple, A Ferrier (deceased), G Gard, N Hacker, R Hogg, R Houghton, D Marsden, K McIlroy, G Otton, S Pather, A Proietto, G Robertson, J Scurry, R Sharma, G Wain, F Wong; Qld: J Armes, A Crandon, M Cummings, R Land, J Nicklin, L Perrin, A Obermair, B Ward; SA: M Davy, T Dodd, J Miller, M Oehler, S Paramasivum, J Pierides, F Whitehead; Tas: P Blomfield, D Challis; Vic: D Neesham, J Pyman, M Quinn, R Rome, M Weitzer; WA: B Brennan, I Hammond, Y Leung, A McCartney (deceased), C Stewart, J Thompson.

Conflict of interest

The authors have declared that no conflict of interest exists.

Funding

The Australian National Endometrial Cancer Study was supported by the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) of Australia (#339435) and Cancer Council Tasmania (#403031 and 457636). The ANECS Quality of Life study and clinical data collection were funded by a Cancer Australia grant (#552468). IJ Rowlands and VL Beesley are funded by NHMRC program grant (#552429), M Janda is funded by a Career Development Award from the NHMRC (#1045247), and PM Webb is funded by a Senior Research Fellowship from the NHMRC.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Gynaecological Cancers Group, QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia

    Ingrid J. Rowlands, Loretta McKinnon, Penelope M. Webb & Vanessa L. Beesley

  2. School of Population Health, University of Queensland, Herston, Queensland, Australia

    Ingrid J. Rowlands

  3. School of Public Health and Social Work, Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia

    Monika Janda

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Correspondence to Ingrid J. Rowlands.

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Rowlands, I.J., Janda, M., McKinnon, L. et al. Prevalence, predictors, and correlates of supportive care needs among women 3–5 years after a diagnosis of endometrial cancer. Support Care Cancer 23, 1205–1214 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00520-014-2456-0

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